If you're planning to visit Jaipur for the Jaipur Literature Festival from 15–19 January, you should plan for more than panels and book launches. Jaipur's living heritage (including the palaces, the workshops, sacred summer mornings, and incredible food lanes) makes the JLF an excellent reason to linger longer. Here are seven once-in-a-lifetime experiences to combine with your JLF programme and have a fully enjoyable stay.
1. Photograph the Palace of Winds — Hawa Mahal
The pink sandstone exterior of Hawa Mahal is one of Jaipur's most Instagrammable attractions. It is best to arrive early in the morning (open ~9:00am) to take advantage of the soft morning light and to avoid the crowds outside. Take your time going up to the small viewing rooms, the architectural decoration of the jharokhas that the royal women used to watch city life is beautiful and provides a glimpse of the unique architecture of the palace.
Image https://drive.google.com/file/d/1w8xMibtjUzrZZ44s4YYQ-p1gf8ucybPv/view?usp=sharing
- Best time: Early morning (6:30-9:00 AM) for sunrise photography, fewer crowds, and atmospheric light conditions.
- Location: Hawa Mahal on Google Maps
- Location type: Heritage palace and monument.
- Entry price: ₹50 for Indian citizens, ₹200 for foreign visitors.
- Planned experience: Architectural photography, cultural heritage, panoramic views of the city from viewing areas.
- Accessibility: Located in the heart of Jaipur's old city; auto-rickshaw, taxi service or a 5-minute walk from the City Palace.
2. Spend an evening at Amber (Amer) Fort — music, sunset and the sound & light show
Perched high above Maota Lake, Amber Fort comes alive at night. As part of your itinerary, book an evening visit. When the sun sets, witness the fort aglow in purple and gold light. There is a performance if you're staying the evening--Amber has sound and light shows as well as music events featuring local musicians. This experience will engage history lovers and artists alike, in a great night out. Additionally, during JLF, Jaipur often has a number of evening cultural and music events throughout the city. You could attend a talk at the festival and in the evening, see music with a performance at Amber Fort, giving two distinctive day views of things to do in Jaipur.
Practical tip: Pre-book the show or other special concerts--transfers in the evening are easy to allot, and many double-up, as tours that include hotel pick-up for the show, as well.
- Best time: 4 pm to 8 pm for sunset views & show
- Location: Amber Fort on Google Maps
- Location type: historic fort and palace
- Pricing range: ₹100-₹500 for Indians, ₹500-₹1000 for tourists from abroad (inclusive of fort entry and sound & light show fees)
- Type of experience: sunset photographs, Rajasthani cultural performances, sound & light show, explore palace architecture
- Getting there: 11 km from the city center; by taxi, auto-rickshaw, or organized tours (30-40 minutes)
3. Devour the walled-city street food through the Pink City lanes
No trip to Jaipur would be complete without a visit to sample all of the famous food bites from the Walled City: pyaaz kachori, dal-baati-churma, ghewar (seasonal sweet), lassis, and chaat stalls that perpetually congregate around Johari, Bapu and Tripolia Bazaars. In the spirit of balancing festivities with walking and eating, a street food stroll in the bazaars is a very good way to experience local life amongst the panels. A short walking - 2–3 hours - will showcase most of the highlights and get you ready for JLF events in the evening.
Best utilitzation of street food trails is between the hours of 6:00 and 9:00 PM; the atmosphere and variety is at its best.
Images https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-fQ6ZVLp0KQjiU-Cvj4IuwKDgMlhiu5X/view?usp=sharing
- Location: Johari Bazaar on Google Maps
- Location type: Street food markets, walking lanes, and togetherness in the walled city.
- Cost estimate: ₹50-₹300 per person for filling, enjoyable and educational street food experience.
- Local culture and leisure experiences: Rajasthani street food tasting, immersing to local culture, and walking food tours.
- How to get there: Located in Jaipur's old city (Johari Bazaar, Bapu Bazaar and Tripolia Bazaar range), neighborhood is very close and easy to walk from city palace about 10-15 minutes, or you can easily find an auto rickshaw or taxi to take you to the walled city.
4. Jaipur’s Deity Govind Dev Ji and Gopinath Ji temples
Begin your day in Jaipur peacefully while visiting the famous Govind Dev Ji and the nearby Gopinath Ji temples, located within the City Palace. The morning aarti and the temple courtyards offer calming moments of the city before the chaos of festival activity begins. Locals and pilgrims gather for daily rituals that provide a depth of cultural experience of the city's spiritual life.
- Tip: dress discreetly and //be sure to remove shoes / when entering the temple.
- Best time to visit: Early morning (4:30-8:00 AM) for the morning aarti and the quiet peace of the temples.
- Location:View google map locations Govid devji temple and Gopinath Ji temple.
- Location type: Religious temples and spiritual sites
- Price: Free (donations encouraged)
- Experience: Spiritual depth, morning prayers and rituals, temple architecture and local devotional culture
- How to get here: Located centrally, inside the City Palace complex, in Jaipur's heart; auto-rickshaw/taxi/walking is best
- Countryside Yoga Retreat & Village Visits at Savista
For those in the festival mood who want restorative relaxation, spend one night at countryside retreat just outside of Jaipur. Savista Retreat offers short yoga and wellness stays — awaken at dawn to a gentle yoga class with birds chirping and fields all around you, sip slow chai and return in time for JLF's afternoon sessions feeling fresh. Just the remedy for a fruitful day at the festival; gently immersing calm before another stimulating night of literary conversation.
Recharge your battery with a morning in the countryside — Savista Retreat, a luxury boutique hotel in Jaipur, offers weekend yoga retreats that fit perfectly with your festival schedule.
Images https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iaOCyvYi7EL73bmmEvbhY6t_Pgrh0g0J/view?usp=sharing
- Best time to visit: Morning (dawn) for sunrise yoga; overnight could be arranged in evening during festival period.
- Location: View Savista location
- Location type: Countryside wellness retreat, yoga centre.
- Price Range: $199 per night (includes accommodation, yoga session and meals).
- Experience: Wellness retreat, meditation, yoga at sunrise, countryside calmness, organic meals, rejuvenation.
- How to get there: Ahmedabad is approx. 20-30 km outside of Jaipur city accessible by taxi or transport can be arranged.
- Block-printing tradition — Bagru & Sanganer
Jaipur is internationally known for its textile craft traditions and, more specifically, for block-printing, an art form that traditionally involves hand-carved wooden blocks and dyeing with natural colors. You can get a front-row seat to the experience by going to either Bagru or Sanganer and seeing the full printing process unfold — the cutting of the wood, the dyeing process, and the moment when the stamped pattern is pressed into the cloth. Some artisans or workshops will invite short demonstrations; others will allow you to participate in a half-day workshop and print your own usable souvenir! Block printing is a tangible experience and a way to explore the culture of artisans to mark the festival's celebration of words and ideas.
- Time to Visit: 9:00 AM-2:00 PM (morning-afternoon) to see artisans working at their craft; workshops may also be available during the festival period.
- Location Type: Artisan workshops or traditional craft villages, here is the location of bagru
- Price Range: ₹1000-₹200 (demonstration); ₹5000-₹8000 (half-day workshop class)
- Experience: Traditional process of textile block-printing demonstration, hands-on workshop with craft, experiencing interaction with artisans, textile shopping, exploring cultural heritage.
- How to get there: Bagru (30km w of Jaipur); Sanganer (16km s of Jaipur). All reachable by taxi, auto-rickshaw or tour.
7. Marvel at Chand Baori, the ancient stepwell at Abhaneri
Embark on a day trip to Abhaneri's village to witness Chand Baori — one of India’s most spectacular stepwells with hundreds of precisely organized steps going down to the earth. This 8th–9th century structure is stunning for photographers, as it is a striking contrast to the hilltop palaces of Jaipur. It is a unique half-day or full-day trip when visiting Jaipur from different festival days.
Practical Tip: Chand Baori is located outside Jaipur (1.5–2 hours driving). It is best to combine this with other nearby heritage sites for a full day trip of rural Rajasthan.
- Best time to visit: Mornings to late afternoons (8:00 AM-4:00 PM) for best lighting and photography; avoid peak heat in the summer in the afternoons to mid-afternoons.
- Location: View chand baori
- Location Category: Historical monument and ancient stepwell
- Cost Range: ₹25 for Indians, ₹300 for foreign visitors
- Activities: Architectural photography and historical interest; also engineering wonder; very tranquil and rural in setting.
- How to get there: 95 km east of Jaipur in Abhaneri village (1.5-2 hours driving); can be accessed by taxis and organized day tours.
